The disease of infertility is still somewhat taboo in our society. It’s not uncommon for people who are experiencing infertility to keep quiet about their struggles. So, many people get their information about infertility from movies, hearsay, or a “friend of a friend.” National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW) is all about busting through the silence, shame, and the myths that society perpetuates. Here are a few of the most common myths:
MYTH #1
The disease of infertility only occurs in older or unhealthy people
FACT: Infertility can occur in anyone of child-bearing age, regardless of their overall health. While age, weight, and lifestyle decisions (smoking, alcohol, drugs, etc.), can play a factor, many healthy people also experience infertility.
PERSONAL STORY: I am 32 years old and my husband is 30. We are both in good physical health and at healthy weights. Neither of us smoke. I rarely drink and my husband has a few drinks a weeks. We’ve been struggling to conceive for over two years.
MYTH #2
The only treatment for the disease of infertility is in-vitro fertilization (IVF).
FACT: Most people who seek out fertility treatments do not end up having IVF. More common treatments include ovulation induction (OI) medication and intrauterine insemination (IUI). Infertility may also be resolved by treating underlying health issues such as diabetes, thyroid disorders, or weight issues.
PERSONAL STORY: We had three unsuccessful medicated IUIs and one canceled medicated IUI before moving on to IVF. However, I know several different people who have had success after taking Clomid or having an IUI.
MYTH #3
Anyone who has fertility treatments will end up with twins or more.
FACT: While fertility treatments and medications can increase your odds of having multiples, the majority of couples who conceive will end up with a single child. The risk of multiples varies according to age and type of medication and treatment involved.
PERSONAL STORY: My first IVF cycle ended in an early miscarriage, but my doctor said all results indicated that it would’ve been a singleton pregnancy. Also, I know two people who have twins, and both were results of natural (unmedicated) cycles!
MYTH #4
Infertility is a women’s disease.
FACT: According to RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, only 30% of infertility cases can be attributed to the female. An additional 30% are male-related, and the remainder of cases are unexplained or a combination of both partners.
PERSONAL STORY: I was diagnosed with a luteal phase disorder (LPD) and my husband was diagnosed with low sperm volume and poor motility. Both of our issues contribute to our struggle to conceive.
MYTH #5
IVF always works.
FACT: Unfortunately, there is no fertility treatment that is 100% successful. Success rates for IVF depend on a woman’s age and how many embryos she transfers. RESOLVE’ says that the majority of women have a per-cycle success rate of 20-35%. If you’re interested in seeing a specific clinic’s success rates, SART maintains a database of individual clinic success rates.
PERSONAL STORY: As I mentioned earlier, my first IVF cycle resulted in a very early miscarriage. Technically, IVF worked since I got pregnant, but we obviously didn’t get the results we ultimately wanted. We’re trying again next month with our first frozen embryo transfer (FET).
For more information about the disease of infertility and NIAW, check out the following links:
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